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More New Jersey Towns Look To Become Their Own Utilities After Sandy

PARK RIDGE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) - For at least one New Jersey town, power was restored quickly and orderly after superstorm Sandy, and there is a very good reason.

WCBS 880's Sean Adams On The Story

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Park Ridge residents are not at the mercy of PSE&G. They didn't have to wait around for two weeks after Sandy for power to be restored.

More than a century ago, the borough was the first municipality in the area to generate its own electricity.

To this day, the borough controls its own electrical system. It buys electricity wholesale and then distributes it.

The local linemen know every inch of infrastructure. So, after four days, everyone there had power restored.

There's something to be said for being self sufficient.

Because the operation is non-profit, customers there also pay less - 28 percent less than they would with PSE&G.

Nine towns in New Jersey still manage their own utilities. The others are Butler, Madison, Middletown, Lavallette, Pemberton, Seaside Heights, Vineland, and South River.

It's not common and though they're looking into it, it's not likely that other towns will be able to switch because of costs and legal questions.

Do you think more towns should provide their own power? Sound off in our comments section below.

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